Roman Maciejewski – an Independent Artist, Atrulyfreeman Marlena Wieczorek
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5 Roman Maciejewski – An Independent Artist, ATrulyFreeMan Marlena Wieczorek Building identity Roman Maciejewski was a Polish émigré composer of the twentieth century. Born in Berlin in 1910, he spent the first years of his life in that city, graduat- ing from the prestigious Julius Stern Conservatory (the piano class of Maria Goldenweiser). From this period he remembered, among others, the specific atmosphere associated with the rise of racism in Germany. Years later he re- 1 called that he was not popular in his school class because he was a Pole, and, as his brother claimed, “that experience was the first to make little Romek aware of his national identity”(Kozub 2010: 252). Due to the unstable eco- nomic situation and the worsening political and social conditions in Ger- many, in 1919 the composer’s parents decided to return to Poland. The family resided in Leszno, where Maciejewski went to Jan Komeński State Secondary School for Boys. He did not abandon his passion for playing the instrument, 2 to which he dedicated all his spare time. His interest was kept up by the atmosphere of his family home, always full of music, as his mother was a pi- ano teacher. Maciejewski frequently recalled how she played Chopin, and this influenced his musical taste and made him choose piano as his main in- strument (Gołaszewski 1999: 12). In Leszno, Maciejewski also joined the boy 1 Roman Maciejewski, comment made in the film Outsider, dir. by S. Szlachtycz, TVP 1993. 2 Based on Marlena Wieczorek’s interview with Wojciech Maciejewski, Warsaw 30th March 2002. 104 Marlena Wieczorek scouts, which was a forge of patriotism, with a strong impact on the views of young people (Kozub 2010: 252). In 1924 Maciejewski began to study piano at the Music Conservatory in 3 Poznan, where he met eminent artistic personalities, such as Bohdan Za- leski, Stanisław Wiechowicz or Kazimierz Sikorski, who introduced him to the secrets of contemporary art. The overall atmosphere of the university and its concert activity also played a role in the formation of his musical tastes. The composer participated, among others, in the concerts of the State Music Conservatory choir and orchestra (for example in the performance of Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater) (Latoszewski 1929: 213). This kind of events sensitised him to developments in contemporary Polish music and helped crystallise his compositional idiom. The first examples of his individual style can already be found among his youthful compositions, such as Mazurkas for piano (dedicated to Sikorski) or the choral Kurpie Songs,whosestylewas modernist and up to date. These first attempts convinced Maciejewski that he should study composition. He started at the Higher School of State Mu- sic Conservatory in Warsaw in 1931. By choosing Warsaw, he followed his master – Sikorski, who was at that time a professor in the Conservatory. From the first moments of his stay in the capital, Maciejewski’s talent stood out among other students and he was even called the hope of young music in Poland (Drzewiecki 1971: 144). He also became one of the favorite com- posers of Szymanowski, who quickly recognised the Maciejewski’s talent, admired his music, served him with advice and even took him under his care (Lilpop-Krance 1991:69). The master tried to expand the horizons of his pupil and shape music tastes, among others by introducing him to the 4 artistic life of the capital or arranging for public performances of his own works. Thanks to these efforts, Maciejewski gained popularity as a composer and pianist, and some predicted a great future for him (e.g. Zalewski 1977: 135). The Institute for Art Promotion played a special role in this context. 5 The first concert of Maciejewski’s works was held there in 1932. Aclosere- 3 Based on the degree certificate issued by the Music Conservatory of Poznań (the original), in the collection of R. Maciejewski Music Society in Leszno, Poland. 4 Letter of R. Maciejewski to Marcella Hildebrandt, 20th November 1932, Warsaw. 5 Letter of R. Maciejewski to M. Hildebrandt, 19th October 1932, Warsaw. Roman Maciejewski – An Independent Artist, A Truly Free Man 105 lationship with Szymanowski helped Maciejewski to crystallise of his artistic individuality, developed him both professionally and personally, but it also prevented him from completing his conservatory studies. His student career came to an abrupt end when the composer took part in a strike against Szy- manowski’s dismissal from the post of vice-chancellor. However, expelling from the Conservatory (Kisielewski 1957: 36–37) did not break Maciejewski, as he was strongly convinced that he had stood up for the right side. It did not stop his artistic development and even opened up many new opportuni- ties thanks to his acquaintance with the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs – Józef Beck and his wife – Jadwiga. The Beck family were not only interested in Maciejewski’s music, but also developed a liking for him as a man. He vis- ited them many times for various celebrations and also gave private concerts 6 in their villa, which met with acclaim. Personal contacts in the circles of state diplomacy and politics proved use- ful in Maciejewski’s career. One positive effect of these relationships was, for example, a tour of the Balkans, where he presented his compositions, which met with an enthusiastic critical and public reception (“Polska muzyka za- granicą” 1934: 40). Another effect was a government scholarship to study in Paris, which Maciejewski obtained thanks to the patronage of Minister Józef Beck and his wife. Leaving the country, Maciejewski certainly could not know that as from this moment on he would become a lifelong emigrant and that only the urn with his ashes would came back to Poland. It does not mean, however, that the composer forgot where he was from. The years spent in Poland had formed him as a man, but had also shaped his artistic identity, to which he would remain faithful till the end of his days. Also his musical inspirations fit into the context of his biography, and the interwar period, when he devel- oped his artistic views, had a profound effect on him. 6 Maciejewski recalled in a letter: “Concerning the reception of my music. All the diplomats liked it and as Mrs Beck said, they did not applaud me conventionally, as it usually happens, but they were captivated. The result is that wife of the Romanian ambassador wishes to have a concert of my music arranged in Bucharest and the Italian ambassador also said something about a similar event.” Letter of R. Maciejewski to M. Hildebrandt, 14th [or 16th] January 1933, Warsaw. Dated after Chylińska (2002: 18). 106 Marlena Wieczorek Different shades of emigration For a young composer during the interwar period a stay in Paris was the re- alisation of dreams. The city attracted artists from all over the world; it was the place for the first performances of the most important works, and the atmosphere was favourable to creativity and development (Helman 1972: 81). The young scholar quickly immersed himself in the whirl of local life, benefiting from his residence in the artistic centre of the continent; he ex- panded his knowledge, built his views and developed his musical talent. He 7 met distinguished personalities of the world culture and he also had numer- ous Polish friends, such as: Kazimierz Kranc, Felicja Lilpop, Czesław Miłosz 8 (with whom he lived in one hall of residence), Alexander Tansman and in particular, Arthur Rubinstein, whom Maciejewski owed much and honestly liked him (Cegiełła 1976: 169). The composer associated also with painters, whom he joined almost every Sunday for a visit to the Louvre. The group was guided by Józef Pankiewicz (Lilpop-Krance 1991: 81). After arriving in France, Maciejewski began private consultations with Na- dia Boulanger, and although he rather quickly gave up these classes, he still intensively studied and practised. The result of this work was the pinnacle of his artistic achievement from that period – Concerto for Two Pianos,which had many performances. The first one, in Paris, took place on 25th March 1936 at the Salle Chopin (at Pleyel House), with the composer himself and Kazimierz Kranc as performers (Helman 1972: 103). The piece was also pre- 9 miered in Poland on 23rd February 1937 – the concert was broadcast on the radio. On 23rd June 1937 the concerto was presented again in Paris during a concert held in the Salle de Comedie Théatre des Champs Elysées, under 10 the auspices of the World’s Fair in Paris (ISCM festival). A few months 7 Among others: Igor Stravinsky, Alfredo Casella, Darius Milhaud, Arthur Honegger, Albert Roussel, Maurice Ravel, Francis Poulenc. Janusz Cegiełła’s interview with Roman Maciejewski, 19th June 1979; tape recordings with the interview come from the archives of Wojciech Maciejewski in Warsaw. 8 Interview of J. Cegiełła with R. Maciejewski and W. Maciejewski, 19th April 1979. 9 Kurier Warszawski no. 56, 25th December 1937, evening issue, p. 6, in Chylińska (2002: 246). 10 The programme also included compositions by other Polish contemporary composers (Woytowicz, Szałowski, Gradstein, Palester). In the concert schedule printed in Zofia Helman’ s article (1992: 103), there are two dates of the performance of Maciejewski’s Concerto: 8th or/and 23rd June 1937. It is therefore not certain if there was actually one or two concerts. Roman Maciejewski – An Independent Artist, A Truly Free Man 107 later, Maciejewski was invited by the section of contemporary music of the Royal College of Music to London (“Polska muzyka i polscy wykonawcy za- granicą” 1938: 45), where he presented his concert in Wigmore Hall (Z.G. 1938). Thanks to this invitation he came in contact with the famous choreog- rapher and ballet master Kurt Jooss and, although the composer had fallen in love in Paris at first sight (Cegiełła 1976: 168), he nevertheless decided to 11 start working at Dartington Hall (Totnes).